Commissioned by Fort Worth Avenue Development Group’s Spare pARTS program 2014, the installation piece is now residing on Malone Drive at the intersection of Ft. Worth Ave. was conceived and built by artists Juli Hulcy-Kessinger and Scott Shubin.
Steampunk has arrived on Fort Worth Avenue with the installation of the Steam Punk Bird, the finalist in this year’s Spare pARTS public art competition sponsored by the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group. Steampunk art mixes modern ideas and technology with those from the past, mainly from the Victorian Age, when steam was a major source of power and the Industrial Revolution was in full swing. Retro meets the future—at least the future as the 19th century might have imagined it. Materials are often things you could find in an old science lab or industrial lot such as cogs, springs, levers, gears, rivets, watch parts, and other pieces of machinery.
Artists Scott Shubin and Juli Hulcy created the piece that was installed in front of Metro Paws at 1021 Fort Worth Avenue. Scott studied advertising at Midwestern State University and has a love of modern and contemporary art work and sculpture. He has exhibited his work in galleries and shows throughout the North Texas area. Juli is an instructor at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, and her art has been in the State Fair sculpture garden for six years. Her work can be seen at Kitterell Riffkind Art Glass Gallery.
A dedication ceremony was held on October 25, 2014 in conjunction with the FWADG’s annual fundraiser held at Manny Rodriguez’s new studio located behind Metro Paws.
Artist Scott Shubin with Steam Punk Bird
Volunteers from the community gently lift Steam Punk Bird onto its 7 ft. steel pipe base
Artist Scott Shubin observes as Tim Johnson from Commerce Grinding bolts Steam Punk Bird onto its rotating flange
Artist Scott Shubin applies finishing touches to the installation
Artist’s rendering of Steam Punk Bird